No, I am not referring to Iraq. I am referring to the current state of affairs. This is my first announcement that I will be seeking the position as Vice President of the United States. There is no way to "run" for this appointed post but my goal is to gain the support of "Average" Americans like myself and be selected as the running mate in the next general election.

Sound Crazy? Maybe. but how many of us have gotten tired of "politicians" and all of their political wrangling. Both parties have been disappointing in the last few years. Scandals, bridges to no-where, ineffectiveness at legislation. How many have been looking for new blood. Someone not affiliated with special interests, not interested in political power, but one of us, the majority, who only wants to do what is best for the country and his/her family. It's time we change course. Our country was founded by farmers, artisans, tradesman, businessmen,  and entrepreneurs not just lawyers with family connections.

I'm throwing my hat in the ring. I don't have millions. I'm not famous, BUT, I am the majority and we can make a change.

Here is my official announcement.

I am announcing my intention to serve as Vice-President of the United States. Do I have a chance? Probably not. So why am I doing this? A lot of reasons and I will do my best to explain why I want to do this and why I think I am qualified to hold this office.

First off, who is Raymond McKinney. Well, I’m a guy just like most of you. Let’s go with the majority numbers. I am a natural born citizen (that’s an easy one), I’m over 35 years of age, and I work for a living. I’m NOT a politician. I earn a living and pay taxes and unlike ALL of our Congressman and Senators I pay Social Security taxes. I don’t have a retirement plan that pays me my annual wages after only 1 term of office. I take short vacations. I have a wife, we’ve been married for “over” 23 years. I can remember the wedding date but the year escapes me at times. I graduated high school, spent almost 2 years at a technical school, and am currently working on my degree using an online school. So far I’m pretty much like most of the country, I’m one of you. I have to pay a mortgage, electric bills, property taxes, groceries, car insurance, tithes, and so on. Just like most of you. I have close personal family in the military. I pray daily. I worry about my families future.

I believe in God, I attend church on average once a week. I think a good religious moral code is important. I do not believe I have the right to shove my faith down your throat. If you have a problem with a Christian in office, think of this. Would you want someone making life and death decisions who believed that they would face judgment from a higher power and pay for their decisions for all eternity or do you want someone who is in it for the short tem and get what they can get?

I like my martini’s dry, with 2 olives. I have been known to have 3-4 on a Friday night when my wife is there to drive me home. I don’t do illegal drugs, although after having a few kidney stones, I can appreciate the desire to remain in a drug induced euphoric stage but then reality hits, after all I do have a job.

We have one son, who is currently trying to do things his own way. Half the time he probably hates me and thinks I’m the biggest jerk around (I’m his dad, not his friend, there is a difference) the other half we get along just fine. He’s a good kid, never arrested, never hooked up with a gang, graduated high school, refused to take the SAT and wants to prove he can do it on his own.

We have 2 dogs and enjoy going to the movies and spend most evenings at home or at a neighbors house. Our favorite show is 24. We don’t watch it all year but buy the season set and have a 24 marathon during Christmas. We can normally get the whole season in about 48 hours.

I’m just a regular American who is fed up with our current political set. I believe most politicians have forgotten what their job is, what it’s like to have to live in the real world, and spend their time trying to stay in office rather than doing their job. Personally, I think we should replace anyone who has currently been in office for more than 2 terms in ANY position. Let them have to deal with our world and the laws and regulations they have passed. I do believe there is 2 Americas and the current crop of “professional” politicians is one group and the rest of us trying to get through life make up the other.

I have no political “experience”. I owe nothing to any one in office, I am not bound to any political group or special interest. I will perform my duties based on what I believe is right for my fellow Americans. The ones who work for a living, the ones who put their kids through school, the ones who pay taxes, worry about retirement, who think an Outback steak is “fine” dining. Who eat at Ryans Steakhouse on a regular basis. Who shop at Wal-Mart because they aren’t going to waste money at Macey’s. People just like you, the MAJORITY of this country.

I will probably not be taken seriously because I’m not one of “them”. Isn’t it interesting how so many politicians talk about having a conversation or how they “feel” your pain. How do you “feel” my pain when your electric bill is more than my mortgage? How do you “feel” my pain when you fly in a private jet and I fly coach? Please, give us ALL a break. I’m not about class envy. If you’re a millionaire, that’s great. I would like to be one too. I think most people want to be successful. I would be ecstatic if my son became a millionaire. The point is, you guys are spending OUR money. Sure a lot of it goes the right place but the study of the Amazonian Red Tree Frog? I’ll get more into this later.

So why run for VP? First off, I am NOT qualified to be the President of the United States. I’m a realist and know there is no way to attain that office without experience. Even I wouldn’t vote for me as President, yet. As VP, I intend to perform the duties as set forth by our constitution which is mainly to cast deciding votes in the senate and to execute the policies of the President. What I do intend to do is find out how things are really working in Washington. I also want to spend a lot of time with the “average” American. I intend to have one dinner a week with an average family, chosen at random all over the US. Please, not take out dinners and nothing special. I’m a casserole or meat and potatoes guy. Salmon patties and fried potatoes are fine by me. I prefer cornbread over bread and I like ketchup. Un-sweet tea or water. I just don’t like the taste of sweet tea, my mother burnt me out on that.

I want to get the experience to become your President so that I can do the things I think you and I want done. I don’t want to start out as a mayor or congressman. I think I am a good person, will do what is right for our country, and a term or two of service in either house would do nothing but really tick me off. I would be so frustrated at what these “politicians” are currently doing. The games they play, the “negotiating”, the partisanship, it’s enough to make the average American not even want to vote. I think we should clean house.

All you have to do is watch CNN or FOX for a night or two and you are just disgusted with our politicians as I am. Blathering on about this or that. The latest scandal. Who found out what or said what about who. The guy with $90K in bribe money in his freezer still serving in the house. Oh please, we all know it’s bribe money, he’s on camera for Pete’s sake taking the money.

Maybe there are a lot of good ones, but it’s the alcoholics, the “nuts”, the booger eater and the ones really out of touch we see on the news. Our current batch is mostly an embarrassment to our country. I think they are out of control and as President I intend to make them accountable. Currently I would use the veto pen so much I will need refills for the ink cartridge. Spending is out of control, regulations, corruption, all out of control. It’s time we have Americans running the country and not politicians.

Okay, to keep from rambling from one topic to the next, I will try to cover my position on each issue. These are issues, in no particular order, that I believe are important to the nation either from a security or a moral standpoint.